SHELBY COUNTY — Illinois State Police Investigators responded to a request by the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office on November 1, to investigate unexplained injuries to a 12-day old infant from Cowden, Ill., who was brought into St. Anthony’s Hospital in Effingham.

The injuries were determined to be consistent with child abuse and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) was contacted to assist in the investigation.

On November 9, 2016, Zone 5 agents arrested the infant’s mother, Kayla N. Girard, age 20, and father, Devan B. N. Porter, age 19, on arrest warrants issued by the Shelby County State’s Attorney for Aggravated Battery to a Child,

Both parents are being held in the Shelby County Jail with bail set at $100,000 each. They have each been formally charged with Class X felony aggravated battery to a child under the age of 13 causing permanent disability, and are scheduled for December 9 preliminary hearing with their court appointed attorneys.